Ravens observations from rookie minicamp, including injury updates and small school stars with big dreams
It was like Christmas in May in Owings Mills.
That’s how Ravens coach John Harbaugh described the team’s three-day rookie minicamp, which began Friday, concludes Sunday and included meetings, weightlifting sessions and on-field work, though no live contact. It also marked the first time coaches were able to see the team’s draft picks, undrafted free agents and tryout invitees in action in their building.
“It’s fun to see the guys that you’ve been talking to, interviewing, watching tape on, to see them come in and they’re Ravens and in your colors, wearing your helmet doing what they do,” Harbaugh said.
Nerves among the new faces were obvious, he added, especially in meetings as well as with some players figuring out where to sit in the cafeteria, an experience akin to the first day of high school. “Football-wise, you don’t see it as much,” Harbaugh said.
Though the portion of the minicamp that was open to the media included only stretching and light drills, there was some insight to be gleaned from Saturday’s session, the first of several practices in the coming weeks and months.
Early impressions of CB Nate Wiggins, OL Roger Rosengarten
While many of the rookies on hand for minicamp won’t be on the roster by the end of training camp, the Ravens’ first two draft picks certainly will, and both will be expected to be significant contributors right away.
What were Harbaugh’s early impressions of Wiggins, taken 30th overall, and Rosengarten, whom they drafted in the second round?
“Nate looked good,” Harbaugh said. “As good as he looked, technique-wise, there are so many things that he needs to get better at. He’s open to that, and that’s part of that.”
As for Rosengarten, who should be in the mix for the starting right tackle job, Harbaugh noted his versatility, comparing him favorably in that regard with swing tackle and veteran Patrick Mekari.
“Roger is a really good athlete,” Harbaugh said. “He moves his feet really well. … I saw him in person in the [national] championship game a little bit, but that’s different. To see him in person out here moving his feet, I’m like ‘OK, he’s everything that we thought he would be athletically.’”
Injury updates
It took only one day, but there were a few players who were held out Saturday.
Maryland safety and former River Hill High standout Beau Brade, who signed with the Ravens after somewhat surprisingly going undrafted, was in a walking boot after rolling his ankle the day before, Harbaugh said. Outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, a third-round pick out of Penn State, was also on the sideline after tweaking his hamstring a day earlier.
Neither injury is expected to be serious.
Running back Rasheen Ali, meanwhile, did participate but only partially and without a helmet. A fifth-round pick from Marshall, Ali suffered a torn biceps at the Senior Bowl in February.
The 5-foot-11, 206-pound back is an intriguing pick after he rushed for 1,135 yards and 15 touchdowns on 212 carries and caught 28 passes for 213 yards and another score last season for the Thundering Herd. With Keaton Mitchell still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in mid-December, Ali should see plenty of carries this summer as the third back behind newly added four-time Pro Bowl selection Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, who is in the final year of his contract.
Ali should be “more than ready” for training camp, according to Harbaugh.
One player who already is: offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees.
A seventh-round pick a year ago who sat out all of last season while he recovered from a torn ACL suffered during the NFL scouting combine, the Southern California alum is expected to compete for a starting guard spot. He was also without a brace on his knee and has been declared by Harbaugh as ready to go.
“He looked well-trained,” Harbaugh said of Vorhees, who was at the Ravens’ facility throughout last season. “He looks strong. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s moving his feet well.”
Small schools, big dreams
Among the players at rookie minicamp were four from schools at the Division II level or lower: wide receivers DeAngelo Hardy (North Central College) and Jelani Baker (Limestone), running back Chris Collier (Lock Haven) and tight end Mike Rigerman (Findlay).
All are long shots to make the roster, but Hardy is perhaps the most intriguing.
The 6-foot-1, 208-pound four-year starter had 4,253 receiving yards on 246 catches, including a school-record 58 touchdowns. As a senior, he caught 75 passes for 1,353 yards and 20 scores, and he ranks seventh in Division III history in career touchdown receptions and 17th in receiving yards.
He also rushed for 394 yards and five touchdowns on 40 carries, returned 13 kickoffs for 520 yards and three scores and completed 3 of 3 passes for 25 yards and three touchdowns.
Collier also put up big numbers, rushing for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns with 22 catches for 238 yards and another three scores in 11 games last season. He was a Division II All-American.
“Great players come from every single level of college football, and it’s really how you transition to the NFL that counts,” Harbaugh said, adding that the biggest message to all the rookies was “you’re in the NFL for a reason, and don’t underestimate your ability to fulfill your dreams.”
